Flexible metallic tubing.



PATENTED JULY 24, 1906. Y

W. W. HARRIS- FLEXIBLE METALLIC TUBING; APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27, 1905.

vilncmgy 216C. My

UNITED STATES P A ENT OFFICE.

WINFRED HARRIS, or wnvrnnor, MASSAOHUSETTS,'ASSI GNOR TO J ESS. WILSON, or CHELSEA, MASSACHUSETTS.

FLEXIBLE METALLIC TUBING- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 24, 1906.

tubing, and comprises such a tubing form (1 of two tubes, one arranged upon andinterlocked with the other, but without any interlocking between the strip composing one tube and the strip composing the other.

Figure 1 in front elevation shows a tube constructed in accordance with my invention, a part of the tube being shown in section in order to illustrate the arrangement of the tubes with respect to each other. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a portion of the outer tube. Fi 3 is a like view of the inner tube. Fig. 4 is alongitudinalsection of a portion of the tube, showing the interlocking construction between the two tubes and the sliding I union between the marginal flanges of the strip forming each tube. Fig. 5 is acrosssectional view on line 5 5 of Fig. 1. F' 6 is detail view of one form of packingc am- The same numerals of reference indicate the same parts in all of the figures.

Each tube is composed of a strip of metal suitably fashioned and spun together in a helical form. The metal strip comprisingthe inner tube is, as shown, formed with a flat central (portion 1, each edge of which is bent u war forme with a horizontal flange 4 and .the lip 2 being formed with a horizontal flange 5. In the tube as constructed the flange 4 rests upon the flange 5, but is not interlocked therewith, the two flanges 4 and 5 being free to slide on each other. It will be seen that the flat central portion 1, with the lips 2 and 3, form a spiral channel, as 6, around the tube, while the flanges 4 and 5, together with the lips 2 and 3, also form a spiral channel, as 7, around the tube, the latter channel open ing into the tube, while the channel 6 isupon the outside. It will further be seen that the interior bore of the tube is formed by the flat central portion 1 andthat said bore is uniform and smooth, oflerin no obstruction to the passage of the who e or part of an object forming lips 2 3, the lip 3 being.

tempting 1 therethrough. Further, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the flan e 4 is arranged upon the flange '5, each being lree to move on the other and ofl'erin no abutment or interlocking to prevent t e separation of a convolute by the flange 4 passin off the flange5.

Referring to Fig. 2, the tape composing the outer tubeis formed with a flat central portion 10, provided on one ed ewith an inwardly-projecting Ii 11 an on the other edge with an inward y-projecting lip 12, the lip 11 being formed with a horizontal flange 13. The lip 12 is for'medwith arelatively narrow horizontal flan e 14, which at its edge is bent upon itself, m iing a ring-shaped member15, the walls of which form a chamber 16, adapted to receive packing material of anypreferredconstruction: As shown, the metal stri of the outer tube ,fashioned as above describe is spun upon itself in a helical manner, the flange 14, with its ring 15, resting u on the flange 13 and free to slide thereon. practice the two tubes are spun simultaneously one within the other, resulting in the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the flat central portion 1, with its lips 2 and 3 of the inner tube, forming an annular exterior chamber inwhich are arranged the flan es 13 and 14 of the outer tube, while the at central portion 10 and flanges 11 and. 12 of the outer tube form fan interior annular chamber in which are arranged the lips 2 and 3 and flan es 4 and 5 of the inner tube. While by the escribed construction either tube by itself might .have its individual convolutes separated, yet when combined into the two-part tube the channel of each tube acts as a means for bondin the marginal flanges of the other tube I t us provide a tube wherein the marginal flanges of-each stri are given free play one upon the other an are prevented om separation by the members on the other strip. The joint or overlappin edges of one tuge are covered and protecte by the other tu e.

In Fig. 6 I have shown another form of packing-chamber 16 composed of the rin 15 and a complemental depression 17 forme in the flange'13.

Having-thus explained the nature of my invention; and described a way of constructing and using the same, though without atto set forth all of the forms in which it maybe made or all of the modes of the overlapping edge of each tube is proits use, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A flexible metallic tube comprising two strips of material, each formed with a central depression and marginal flanges, each of said strips being spun u on itself in a helical manner to form an in ependent tube with overlappin but freely-slidable edges, one'of said tubes eing arran ed within the other and the overlap in ranged in the epression of the other tube.

2. A flexible metallic tube comprising two strips of material, each formed with a central depression and marginal flanges, each of said strips being spun upon itself in a helical manner to form a double tube one within the other, the flanges of one tube being overlapped and arranged in the-depression of the other tube.

3. A flexible metallic tube comprising an inner and an outer tube, each formed of a strip of metal spun upon itself in a helical manner to form a tube with overlappin but slidable edges, the overlapping edges 0 one tube being arranged in a chamber or depression in the wall of the other tube.

' 4. A compound tube formed of two tubes one within the other, each tube being forme of a strip spun upon itself, with overla ping edges, and provisions whereby thejomt of tube.

e ges of one tubebeing .ar-'

tected by the other tube.

5. A com ound tube formed of two tubes, one Within the other, each tube being formed of a strip spun u on itself, with overlappin' but unlocked edges, and a central helica chamber, the overlapping edges of one tube being arranged in the chamber of the other 6. A com ound tube formed of two tubes, one within t e other, each tube being formed of a strip spun upon itself, with overlapping but unlocked edges, a central helical chamber, the overlapping edges of one tube being arranged in the chamber of the other tube,

and a marginal chamber formed'in the strip of the outer tube to receive the packing material.

7. A compound tube formed of two tubes, one within the other, each tube being formed of a strip spun upon itself in a spiral manner with overla ping edges, and provisions upon each tube or preventing the separation of the edges of the other tube.

. In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

H. L, ROBBINS, E. BATCHELDER. 

